Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Adelaide Family Home Dressed for a Country Crafts Christmas
Rebekah Cichero uses her expertise as a stylist to ensure her home in a leafy suburb of Adelaide is fittingly festive
Many of us honour Christmas Day with a long, relaxing lunch outdoors. Adelaide stylist Rebekah Cichero is lucky enough to have her own shop, One Small Room, to glean treasures from as she sets the Christmas table on her deck. “We don’t all live on the beach,” she says, “but we use our decks, our verandahs and the parks to enjoy the weather and celebrate with family and friends.”
In decorating her table, tree, entrance and more, Cichero uses handmade decorations, garlands and native flowers. “I have looked to nature for organic forms and a muted colour palette inspired by the pink-toned bark of gumtrees, with pops of colour for festive fun,” she says. “A touch of red signifies Christmas, but it doesn’t have to be the focus. I have used it sparingly in a neutral palette for a fresh take on the festive season.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Stylist Rebekah Cichero, her partner, children and adorable dog Chico
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
That’s interesting: Thanks to Cichero’s charming furniture shop One Small Room, her cosy home is decorated with unique and eclectic pieces
In decorating her table, tree, entrance and more, Cichero uses handmade decorations, garlands and native flowers. “I have looked to nature for organic forms and a muted colour palette inspired by the pink-toned bark of gumtrees, with pops of colour for festive fun,” she says. “A touch of red signifies Christmas, but it doesn’t have to be the focus. I have used it sparingly in a neutral palette for a fresh take on the festive season.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Stylist Rebekah Cichero, her partner, children and adorable dog Chico
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
That’s interesting: Thanks to Cichero’s charming furniture shop One Small Room, her cosy home is decorated with unique and eclectic pieces
The colours on the table were inspired by the soft pinks and greens of Australian gum trees. The pink oil bottle and sage-green ceramic bowl are fun, handmade additions. The overall look is tied together with native flowers and a hand-crocheted garland; the bouquet is made up of pittosporum branches and tropical gingers.
Cichero recommends creating an inspiration board (or you can even create an ideabook) when designing your tabletop to stay on track.
Plates: Charmain Hearder; flowers: Fleurs de Nadia; Deb Jones oil bottle: JamFactory; crocheted cotton garland; condiments dish: Crayon Chick; Ahno cutting board in celery pine and black walnut: Sands Made
Cichero recommends creating an inspiration board (or you can even create an ideabook) when designing your tabletop to stay on track.
Plates: Charmain Hearder; flowers: Fleurs de Nadia; Deb Jones oil bottle: JamFactory; crocheted cotton garland; condiments dish: Crayon Chick; Ahno cutting board in celery pine and black walnut: Sands Made
Cichero asked her local bakery to supply gingerbread reindeer for her Christmas table, which add small but effective spots of red, taste great and are fun for the kids.
Gingerbread reindeer: Red Door Bakery; plates: Charmain Hearder; grey cup: Facet, The Mod Collective
Gingerbread reindeer: Red Door Bakery; plates: Charmain Hearder; grey cup: Facet, The Mod Collective
Cichero adds sparkle to her festive table setting with materials that are translucent or reflect light.
Ceramic Christmas tree: Paper Boat Press; flowers: Fleurs de Nadia
Ceramic Christmas tree: Paper Boat Press; flowers: Fleurs de Nadia
The centrepiece is adorned with small decorations, like this ceramic star, tying together the seasonal motif.
Ceramic star: Paper Boat Press
Ceramic star: Paper Boat Press
The colours in the oil bottle and tablecloth were all inspired by native Australian flora, such as the ginger flower in the centrepiece.
When setting her table, Cichero likes to mix old and new things. Vintage crystal glasses and silver cutlery are paired with locally made ceramic cups and plates.
Facet ceramic cups: The Mod Collective
Facet ceramic cups: The Mod Collective
Cichero created this wreath herself with lengths of ivy and native Australian flowers sourced from her favourite florist, Fleurs de Nadia, which also helped plan the design. Small ceramic tags that say Merry Christmas hang from the wreath, which adds a welcoming and festive note to the entry.
Ceramic tags: Paper Boat Press
Ceramic tags: Paper Boat Press
If you would like to have a go at making this Christmas wreath at home, Cichero recommends the following steps.
1. Twist about five pieces of grapevine or ivy and weave them in and out to create a round shape.
2. Secure the vine ends with twine or ribbon.
3. Weave flowers, leaves, nuts, pine cones, holly and ribbon in and out to cover the vine base; make the look as full as desired. Tie pieces on with twine or ribbon.
4. Tie decorations to the top of the wreath with ribbon so that they hang into the centre. Personalise the wreath with ribbon, ornaments, figurines, ceramic or paper gift tags, or a chalkboard for messages.
TIPS: Vary the lengths of vine according to how large you want the wreath. If your lengths are short, join them by overlapping them and tying with twine.
Choose flora that will dry well and last for several weeks. (Cichero found that native plants worked well.)
Hang a chalkboard in the centre and let children write messages to Santa.
Flowers: Fleurs de Nadia; ceramic tags: Paper Boat Press
1. Twist about five pieces of grapevine or ivy and weave them in and out to create a round shape.
2. Secure the vine ends with twine or ribbon.
3. Weave flowers, leaves, nuts, pine cones, holly and ribbon in and out to cover the vine base; make the look as full as desired. Tie pieces on with twine or ribbon.
4. Tie decorations to the top of the wreath with ribbon so that they hang into the centre. Personalise the wreath with ribbon, ornaments, figurines, ceramic or paper gift tags, or a chalkboard for messages.
TIPS: Vary the lengths of vine according to how large you want the wreath. If your lengths are short, join them by overlapping them and tying with twine.
Choose flora that will dry well and last for several weeks. (Cichero found that native plants worked well.)
Hang a chalkboard in the centre and let children write messages to Santa.
Flowers: Fleurs de Nadia; ceramic tags: Paper Boat Press
Cichero’s dog, Chico, soaks up some sunshine in the home’s front entrance.
If you don’t have time to make a wreath, hang a simple branch of native flowers or nuts and leave a chalkboard greeting to Santa.
More: 14 Brilliant Ways to Use Chalkboard Paint
More: 14 Brilliant Ways to Use Chalkboard Paint
When designing a space, Cichero likes to start by creating a colour palette or utilising existing pieces. “Work out how best to present a focus piece,” she says. “How everything else works with that can be a good starting point – colour, balance, size and shape all come into play, as does how the room will be used every day.”
Here a gumtree branch acts as a rustic Christmas tree in Cichero’s living area. Since the room does not have a traditional mantel, the stylist festooned a nearby storage unit with native flowers and decorations in shades of pink and green.
Marigold rug: Armadillo & Co; Bambi Daze cushion: Pony Rider; Australiana paper decorations: Polli; crocheted cotton garland: Crayon Chick
Here a gumtree branch acts as a rustic Christmas tree in Cichero’s living area. Since the room does not have a traditional mantel, the stylist festooned a nearby storage unit with native flowers and decorations in shades of pink and green.
Marigold rug: Armadillo & Co; Bambi Daze cushion: Pony Rider; Australiana paper decorations: Polli; crocheted cotton garland: Crayon Chick
Cichero used potted native flora to set the colour palette for this living room vignette, adding sparkling glass ornaments in the same rich tones and colours.
Ceramic pot: Charmain Hearder; Llewelyn Ash glass paperweight: Jam Factory; Danielle Rickaby turf paperweight: Jam Factory
Ceramic pot: Charmain Hearder; Llewelyn Ash glass paperweight: Jam Factory; Danielle Rickaby turf paperweight: Jam Factory
Cichero’s love of natural and locally sourced materials shows in her choice of wrapping paper, which is recycled and obtained from regional paper makers.
Gift tag: Printspace; flowers: Fleurs de Nadia
Gift tag: Printspace; flowers: Fleurs de Nadia
Cichero adds some holiday spirit to her son’s bedroom by hanging a colourful garland on the deer head above the fireplace and embellishing the mantel with a stocking.
Throw: Pony Rider; deer head: Made590; stocking: Ikea; Tri450 stool, Hunt Furniture
Throw: Pony Rider; deer head: Made590; stocking: Ikea; Tri450 stool, Hunt Furniture
Bambi continues the deer theme in the children’s bedroom and adds to the Christmas atmosphere. The pinks and greens used to decorate the other areas of the house extend into the bedroom.
Bambi: Made590; polyhedrons garland: Messagemark
YOUR SAY
Do you have Christmas decorating ideas to share? Tell us about them in the Comments.
MORE
Christmas DIY: Ombre Christmas Tree Mural
Not a Naturally Organise Parent? It’s Time for a Guilt-Free Christmas
What’s Your Christmas Decorating Style?
Bambi: Made590; polyhedrons garland: Messagemark
YOUR SAY
Do you have Christmas decorating ideas to share? Tell us about them in the Comments.
MORE
Christmas DIY: Ombre Christmas Tree Mural
Not a Naturally Organise Parent? It’s Time for a Guilt-Free Christmas
What’s Your Christmas Decorating Style?
“Consider the furniture, the cutlery, the cups, the decorations, and then start with a colour in mind,” she says. “Build the look around that, but remember to have fun with it and don’t always stick with what might ‘be tradition’.”
Floral throw: Flower Patch, Pony Rider; stools: steel base and Tasmanian oak top, Tri450 stool, Hunt Furniture: Tolix stools; flowers: Fleurs de Nadia